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(No Model.)

J. J. GEORGES.

CUSHION FOR THE FEET.

No. 326,728. Patented Sept. 22,1885.

Hurrah STATES ATENT Fares.

JOHN J. GEORGES, OF .VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CUSHION FOR THE FEET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,728, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed June 17. 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GEORGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vash ington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushions or Pads for the Feet, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to a pad or cushion to be applied over the instep of the foot, or to such other part as may require filling out to give it a comely shape, and at the same time secure comfort and case; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient and suitable pad or cushion to be placed on the foot or secured to the shoe orboot for the purpose of giving to the feet a comely shape, and preventing it from moving or sliding in the shoe, thereby securing it against deformity and soreness consequent upon such movements.

It is well known that the feet of some persons are not of the same size, and that great difficulty is experienced in finding shoes or boots to fit the same and not be disproportioned in size. Many people also have very low insteps, and when shoes of the proper length and width are found the foot will move and slide therein, because the foot does not press against the shoe at the instep. In such cases the toes are forced forward and become bent up and compressed, and in the end deformed. This is especially true of children, and accounts for the great number of deformed feet, corns, bunions, &c., found on grown persons.

I have found that by the use of a pad, as hereinafter described, these difficulties are overcome, and the inconveniences and deformities resulting therefrom prevented.

This pad or cushion may also be placed on any part of the foot other than the instep, to fill it out and give to it the necessary size and shape.

These pads may be of any required size and shape to suit particular cases.

I preferably make the inclosing sack of said pads of buck-skin; but other soft leather or pliable material may be used. These sacks (No model.)

are filled with any suitable soft material, such as curled hair, cotton, or the like. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, wherein like letters of reference indicatesimilar parts in thcseveral views, and in which- Figure 1 represents the pad as attached to the naked foot. Fig. 2 represents the same attached to a shoe. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the pad or cushion. Fig. 4is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

A indicates the outer covering, of suitable soft material, said covering being formed of a bottom and top piece, the two being united by stitching at their edges a. These pieces,sewed together in the above-described manner,for1n a sack or envelope, in which a filling, A, ofsoft material is placed, and is filled in such an1an ner as to form a gradual curve toward the toe of the foot, so as to conform to the contour of the forward part of the same, and not inconvenience that part of the foot by a bulky projection.

In attaching the cushion to the bare foot, as

shown in Fig. 1, suitable straps, B B, are used,

which may be made ofsuitable light elastic material havingjust enough binding force to keep the cushion in its place and not to stop the circulation of the blood through the foot. In the form of strap illustrated one part is fastened to the forward portion of the cushion or pad, and the other end of the strap to rear portion of said pad, the two parts of the strap uniting in a web which passes under and embraces the feet.

When the cushion is to be used in combination with a shoe, D, as shown in Fig. 2, it is either attached to the shoe by a lace or cord passing through holes a in the projection or tongue a, and secured to the shoe, or it may be stitched directly to the shoe at the front part of the upper seam. The great advantage of this device is, that it not only braces the foot in walking, but strengthens the ankle, and enables a person troubled with weak ankles to walk with ease and comfort.

The cushion or pad, being formed of soft material,readily adapts itself to the contour of any foot, and serves to straighten any irregularity or deformity of a feet.

It is readily seen that the cushion can be secured to any style of shoe, whether lace, button, or gaiter, without in the least changing the construction of the parts thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent, is

1. The combinatiomwith ashoe, of a cushion or pad havingasuitable filling of soft material,

and a tongue or extension formed integral therewith, whereby the said cushion may be 10 attached to a shoe by suitable means, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, the hereindescribed cushion or pad, constructed with a raised portion at its center, havinga filling of JOHN J. GEORGES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. HYER, E. M. MARBLE, 

